DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative offers an opportunity for Americans to make their homes and medicine cabinets safe from theft and abuse.

MAY 06 (ATLANTA) – Georgians participating in the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) 11th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Initiative (NTBI) held on Saturday, April 30, 2016, turned in 8,853 pounds of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at sites set up throughout the state. This amount was the third highest total collected statewide of the 10 previous Take-Back events.

Daniel R. Salter, the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented, “DEA’s 11th Prescription Drug Take-Back campaign was a great success both locally and nationally. While Georgians turned in 8,853 pounds of unwanted or expired medications, nationally, 893,498 pounds (447 Tons) of expired and unwanted prescription medications were collected in more than 5,359 sites that were available across the United States. The local amount collected was the third highest total collected out of the ten previous Take-Back events. I would like to thank the multitude of partners (both law enforcement and non-law enforcement) who worked tirelessly to make this event another great success.”

The NTBI addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue. Surveys of opioid drug users show that the majority of them get their drugs free from friends and family, including from the home medicine cabinet. This event was a unique opportunity for Americans to make their homes and medicine cabinets safe from theft and abuse. It also helped raise awareness about the dangers of controlled prescription opioids and allowed these potentially dangerous substances to be properly disposed of in an environmentally safe way.